Critical Transport: California Dogs Fly to Washington for Adoption

West Coast dogs are on the move! On Saturday, 68 adoptable dogs traveled from Southern California to shelters in Washington where they’ll have a better chance to find loving homes. The dogs traveled by plane, car—and even helicopter!

The dogs left Los Angeles Animal Services’ West Valley Shelter and Best Friends Pet Adoption & Spay Neuter Center on Saturday morning and headed for the Long Beach airport! They were loaded onto 22 planes flown by volunteer pilots with Pilots N Paws, sponsored in part by Subaru, and began their voyage north. In Fresno, California, the dogs boarded a second set of planes, and Pilots N Paws volunteer pilots flew them the rest of the way to Northern California.

After landing at the airport in Redding, the dogs were met by vans funded by the ASPCA and driven by volunteers and staff from Kitsap Humane Society in Silverdale, Wash. After receiving walks, dinner and fresh water, the dogs were driven overnight to Kitsap Humane Society and Seattle Humane Society (in Bellevue, Washington), where they will eventually be available for adoption.

About 100 more Southern California dogs are awaiting their rides tomorrow. Stay tuned to ASPCA.org for updates!